The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1887-04-09

shown all summer to Miss Allison, that
pale little music teacher. tell you, Leon.
ard, It's shame for man of the world
like Leigh to triae with woman's heart,
when the victim is such a sweet, true, little
woman as Miss Beth Allison. If 1 were
her brother now, or had any possible right,
| would certainly call Lawrence Leigh to
account"
But, Hal, l don't understand II. 1t Is
totally unlike Lawrence to do an act Of dis
honor What can he mean9"
TITS plain enough to me, interviewed Hal
Weston, sardonically. "You know Miss
Lyell Is rich. She Is the only child Of
Lyel, the banker, and will have q cool
million. Lawrence Is. not poor, but he al
ways bad an eye to the main chance.
think the story Is plain enough-'he who
runs may read'-only my sympathirs 60
with Miss Allison, and from the bottom of
my heart pity her."
As the two Young men sauntered away.
Beth Allison-pale to the very llps-arose,
and trembling like leaf, made her escape
from the room upstairs to her own apart
ment.
Her hands we're tightly cllnched togetl-
er; In the depths of her dark eyes look of
heart-break; under her breath she was
painting brokenly:
ooh, Lawrencel Lawrencel How can
believe It? 1t does not seem possible. Yet,
the story must be true, or Mr.. Weston
would not have told his friend. Had l
overhead a conversation between two wo-
men, might have looked upon 1t as mere
lille talk; but men never indulge In gossip,
and am forced to believe. II Mr.. Wes-
ton had not pitied me-" she went on, tear
Ing up and down her room like wild
creature, "lf he had not dared to pity mel
might go to him and request full explain
alton. But cannot. And l shall not let
Lawrence Leigh exult over his conquest. /
nave humilated myself enough already, /
will do so no more. Hereafter l will treat
him with the GOODNESS that he deservesr
She was poor, but not friendless by any
means. Only music-teacher in Mrs.
Winsowe's handsome country house; but
Mrs. Winslowe possessed no false pride,
and treated Beth as all equal He house
was filled with guests that summer, and she
had found pretty Miss Allison exceedingly
useful as well as ornamental.
Coming down stairs an hour later. all in
white and corn color, with crimson poppies
In her corsage and In her dark hair, Beth
was met at the entrance to the drawing
room by new arrival-a tall, elegant man
of middle age. One glance and the girls |
hand was extended in cordial welcome.
why, Mr.. Warburton, when did YOU
arrives' she cried in real delight, for he
was an old friend of her dead fathers, and
had known Beth all her life.
IIe!drew her hand through his arm, and
l'rl her out upon the moonlit porch for a
long and pleasant chat And all the time
BAh wss.aware Of Lawrence Legh's pres
ence In the room; handsome, dark-eyed |
Lawrence Leigh, who had been so devoted |
to her all summer, and who had almost
told her that he loved her; chat dangerous. |
II
woman's heart before now.
But lie shall not beak mine!' muttered
Beth, detiantly, as she remembered.
Alas! when did she ever forget?
The evening passed away, and Beth
marked with silent suffering how Lawrence |
Leigh scarcely left Miss Lyelrs side for
moment.
True, he had finally ventured into Beth's |
vicinity, and once lie had asked her for a
dance, but she was engaged to Mr.. War
burton, and told Lawrence so very coolly;
after which lie troubled her no more.
That was the most unpleasant evening of |
Beth Allison's whole life; but for pride's
sake she kept mp, determined that Hal
Weston and Leonard Grey should not sus- |
pect her suffering. And she succeeded so |
well that Hal observed carelessly to his |
friend that he believed they had overestim.
ated the situation, or else Miss Allison was
flrt and did not need their sympathy.
Day followed day in like manner. Mr.. |
Warburton took possession of Beth; and
Lawrence. after few Intellectual attempts
at an understanding with his perverse lady
love, gave up at last in despair.
But as the time passed, and the pain in |
Beth's heart grew deeper and harder to
bear, her physical strength waned yisibly,
and 1t became evident to all that her health
was failing.
At last she resolved to go away. That
very day she found Gertrude Lyell in the
garden, reading letter.
The fair blonde face was flushed and
tender; there was light in her soft blue |
eyes which Beth had never seen there be-
fore.
When the letter was perused, the beauti- |
full reader pressed 1T to her lips. Then |
glancing up suddenly, she saw standing be-
fore her. pale and silent, Beth Allison.
Miss Lyell laughed little constrainedly. |
II must look like simpleton 10 you,
Miss Allison" she cried lightly, but
under the circumstances, / think am ex-
cusable My letter is from Mr.. Leighp'
she added, With conscious blush.
Some impulse prompted Beth. She lift
ell her truthful eyes to the beautiful tace
before her.
Pardon me, Miss Lyell," she began
rapidly, "but are you engaged TOTO"
Miss Lyell laughed.
"Why, OF course. Has not Lawrence told |
you?''
HE has never told me-" returned Beth,
with dignity, walking away as socn as the
words were uttered
She found Mr.. Warburton awaiting her
In the house, and straightwaY Mr.. War
burton astonished Beth Allison with an
offer of MARI e.
lie was very wealthy,and better than all,
he was good; but Beth, who had never
Ihnnnht nf L.. -